A Soquel youth, with intense spirit and high ideals, gave up his education to support his mother and surrendered his life to his country.

Bernard Pillsbury was born about 1900 and was descended from New England stock. His family originated in Maine and moved to Soquel, California, where his father, a college-educated chemist and paper manufacturer, supervised the installation of machinery in the Hihn-Hammond paper mill. The family were active members of the Congregational Church in Soquel and also participated in the Christian Science movement.

In April 1917, while Bernard was in high school, his father died and shortly afterwards, he was forced to drop out of school to assist with family finances. According to the high school's Trident newspaper, Bernard was "full of action and enthusiasm and ability—not strong in body, but having intense spirit and high ideals." He was also remembered for the cheerful way he gave up his school ambitions after the death of his father to become his mother's support.

In June 1918 Pillsbury enlisted in the Quartermaster Department of the US Army and probably completed his basic training at Camp Lewis, Washington. In January 1919, while serving as a private with Troop C of the 1st Cavalry, he contracted influenza at Camp Harry J. Jones in Snohomish County, Washington. Private Bernard E. Pillsbury died from that disease on February 4, 1919. His burial location is not known.

(SCHS Trident, Santa Cruz May 10, 1919; SCSf June 18, 1918 3:37, SCSn, May 10, 1924; Snohomish County Washington, World War I Roll of Honor; http://www.rootsweb.com/~wasnohom/sc26rofh.htm, [16 September 2008])